17/09/2014

For first time since Operation Protective Edge ended, mortar shell fired from Gaza strikes southern Israel, hitting Eshkol region, causing no injuries or damage • Hamas denies it fired mortar, later tells Israel it arrested the perpetrators of the attack.

A mortar shell was fired from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel on Tuesday for the first time since Operation Protective Edge ended last month. The shell exploded in the Eshkol region, causing no injuries or damage.

A mortar shell was fired from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel on Tuesday for the first time since Operation Protective Edge ended last month. The shell exploded in the Eshkol region, causing no injuries or damage.

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My name is Maryam Wahida, and I am a Christian born and raised in Iraq, where most of my family remains. I am privileged to speak on behalf of UN Watch.

I have come here today, with my family, to bear witness before the world about the horrific crimes perpetrated by the Islamic State against my relatives, against the Christians, Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq.

For many weeks now, the terrorists have invaded our villages, destroyed ancient churches, and burned historical archives dating back many centuries.

Mr. President, I welcome today’s meeting. But given the extreme life-and-death urgency, we must ask: Why has the UN waited so long?

The victims of Iraq want to know: What could be more urgent than stopping the terrorists of the Islamic State from persecuting, attacking, enslaving, raping and beheading our men, women and children?

Mr. President,

Those who survived were forced to flee their homes. As displaced persons, they now live in horrible conditions, without basic hygiene and sanitation. They sleep in the streets, on the floor, inside and outside of churches. Children and the elderly suffer the most, and there are many illnesses that quickly spread among the victims.

I speak on the telephone to my relatives in Iraq. I learned about how my cousin Nawar, a 25-year-old pharmacist in Erbil, started collecting money to buy medical supplies for the sick. He managed to buy a wheelchair for one refugee, a 90-year-old woman, who was very happy to receive the help.

I wish to thank all of the governments that have helped so far. But the international community must do more—whatever it can—to help the victims, such as by creating a safe region for displaced persons within Iraq, and to facilitate asylum and migration.

Mr. President, I hope that I can call my relatives in Iraq tonight with news of strong and effective action from the UN, to save the victims who are in such desperate need of the world’s help.

04/09/2014

The Israel Friendship Associations signing this memorandum are appealing to their Governments:

On November 29th 2012 the General Assembly of the United Nations granted Palestine the status of a Non-Member Observer State. May we remind you that the status of an Observer State does not only contain rights but also duties, especially the one to abstain from threatening violence and the use of violence, as it is prescribed in the charter of the UN.

Unfortunately, since the decision of the UN, there has been no stabilisation of the situation. On the contrary, we are right now witnessing another armed conflict between Israel and the US- and EU- designated terror group Hamas.

In this context, the UN Human Rights Council decided on July 23rd 2014, that Switzerland as depository state of the Geneva Convention should prepare a conference on the ongoing war in Gaza. At the same time, it was decided to establish an independent, international commission of inquiry to investigate “all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the Palestinian Territory“.

In our opinion the two decisions of the UN Human Rights Council, the minutes of its special session from July 23rd, in particular the statements of the represented nations, leave no doubt, as to what purpose the conference and the commission of inquiry are pursuing: they clearly condemn Israel and only Israel by majority decision. Where is the condemnation of Hamas and their use of civilians as human shields to protect their weapons, rockets and mortars? Where is the condemnation of the Hamas terror attack tunnels compromising Israel’s security?

We implore you to change your biased course regarding the conference and the biased mandate for the commission of inquiry. Given the duties the Palestinians, including Hamas, have undertaken when accepting the status of Observer-State, the inquiry must examine their actions as well. Taking a different position would ridicule the decision from November 29th 2012 and the repeated terror attacks from Hamas on Israel would once more remain without consequence by the community of states.

We state that Hamas since the ceasefire in November 2012 and the subsequent decision of the UN General-Assembly on November 29th, has massively increased their missile stocks, rockets and mortars and have built a huge labyrinth under Gaza to tunnel into Israel with the express desire to kill Israeli civilians and to kidnap Israeli soldiers right under the eyes of the community of states.

It is time that the UN Human Rights Council issues a truthful statement regarding the current situation in Israel and Gaza and be seen to be fair and even handed to both Israelis and Palestinians.

02/09/2014

According to an official survey published yesterday by Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, an overwhelming 86% of Israelis reported that they are "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with their lives, the equivalent of 4.3 million citizens.

14% of Israelis are reported to be unsatisfied.

The survey was conducted to discover the personal well-being of Israeli citizens, and is based on responses from 4,700 Israelis aged 20 and over. The findings show that 53% of participants are satisfied financially, with 39% saying they expect their financial state to improve in the future.

65% of respondents said that they are able to pay their monthly expenses without experiencing any problems.

On the other side of the poll, 27% said they feel stressed out, either infrequently or constantly, with 19% saying they lose sleep over worrying. 34% said that they experience sleeping problems, whether just "sometimes" or "frequently."

While the public consensus may have shifted since the outset of Operation Protective Edge, Israeli citizens remain optimistic, and patriotic. Americans and Canadianscontinue to make aliyah, and those who already live there (my sister included) show no sign of returning to the West any time soon.

01/09/2014

The UN published several maps showing the aftermath of Operation Protective Edge. The maps mark damaged buildings with red dots scattered throughout Gaza. But this map tells only half the story: Hamas used many of these buildings – including houses, hospitals and schools – as sites to launch rockets and carry out other attacks.